If you’re looking for a new hobby, look no further and try journaling. If you don’t know what journaling is, it’s basically just writing your thoughts and feelings out. I started journaling in 2012, after my dad died suddenly. Journaling and just writing in general was an incredible way to process my emotions.
No matter where you are in life, I encourage you to give it a try. Journaling can take as long or little as you want, prompted or unprompted, digitally or on paper, however you want to do it. That’s what’s so great about journaling: there isn’t a right or wrong way to do it. Sometimes though, it’s nice to have a prompt to respond to. Whether you’re a seasoned writer or completely new, here are one hundred prompts to evoke self discovery.
100 Journal Prompts
- What is your favorite color? Why are you drawn to it?
- What are your greatest strengths?
- How do you use those strengths for good?
- What is your biggest weakness?
- How do you plan on working on your weakness?
- Describe your ideal life.
- What’s preventing you from living that life?
- What is your favorite quote and why?
- Manifest something that will better your life.
- How has your childhood impacted your religious and political beliefs?
- What are your core values and why do you value those things above all?
- Would your five year old self be inspired by the person you are today?
- What is your absolute craziest goal you have for yourself?
- Write up an action plan to reach that crazy goal.
- Are you spiritual or religious?
- What major world event caused a shift in your beliefs? What do you believe now?
- Write about a traumatic event that you refuse to talk about with anyone.
- Are you truly happy with where you are in life?
- Write down 10 things you’re grateful for.
- Can your belief system withstand fire?
- What excites you most about life?
- What scares you the most about life?
- What historical figure would you have dinner with? What questions would you ask?
- What’s something you want to do, but are too scared to try? Is it really as scary as you make it seem?
- What time period in your life do you think about with the most tension?
- Choose one of your political beliefs, and defend it (ex. your stance on gun control, abortion, etc.).
- What do you think your purpose in life is?
- Do you think you’re fulfilling your purpose?
- What major event in your life would you go back and change?
- What is your biggest regret?
- Describe yourself as a scene from a book, TV show, or movie.
- Where do you feel most at peace?
- What is the best way you deal with stress?
- What is your favorite genre of music, and what do you like about it?
- What were you like as a child?
- How is your five year old self different from your current self?
- How is your five year old self similar to your current self?
- If you could ask God anything and get an answer, what would you ask Him?
- Describe your type of humor.
- If you could go back in time and stop one historical event, what would you choose?
There is no right or wrong way to journal.
- Which do you really value more: relationships or money?
- What is one character trait you wished you had?
- What is one character trait you absolutely despise?
- Do you consider yourself a good person?
- Write a letter to your newborn self.
- Write a letter to your five year old self.
- Write a letter to your sixteen year old self.
- Write a letter to yourself in ten years.
- Write a letter to yourself on your deathbed.
- Write a letter to someone who really hurt you.
- Write a letter to someone you hurt.
- Write a letter to your childhood best friend.
- Write a letter to a loved one who has died.
- Write a letter to your pet.
- Write a letter introducing yourself to a stranger.
- What is the scariest thing you’ve ever done? How did you feel after?
- What are your favorite physical features of yourself?
- Are you happy with your career or school?
- If you won the lottery, would you be able to handle it responsibly?
- Do you get jealous of others easily?
- What is the best decision you’ve ever made? Why?
- What was the worst decision you ever made and why?
- What do you hope will happen in your life in the next year?
- Do you have any enemies?
- Who do you trust with your life?
- Who is in your innermost circle of friends? Where did you meet them all? Why are they in your innermost circle?
- Does everything happen for a reason?
- Do you believe in soulmates?
- Is there someone who you cared deeply about, but have drifted away from?
- Do you tend to trust to easily or never trust anyone?
- What event in your life caused those trust issues?
- Would you take a bullet for a stranger? Explain your answer.
- How can you be more gentle with yourself?
- What is the best compliment you’ve ever been given? Why did it make you feel so great?
- What is the most hurtful insult you’ve ever gotten? Why was it so harmful?
- Are you easily influenced by others?
- What major event changed who you are?
- What mantra or quote do you live by?
- Who shows up for you when you’re at your worst?
- Do you feel like you can be your authentic self?
- What is one unpopular opinion you have? Why?
- If you could immediately change something in your life right now, what would you change?
- If you had the opportunity to live abroad, where would you choose?
- Can money actually bring happiness?
- What are you working towards currently (stability, wealth, happiness, etc.)?
- Would you be friends with who you were two years ago?
- Do you consider yourself a creative person?
- Do you like having responsibilities? Why or why not?
- How are your beliefs different from your parents?
- Are you truly happy with your relationship status (single, dating, married, etc.)?
- What is one thing you need to let go of?
- What are some activities you do to gather inspiration?
- How can you practice mindfulness in your life?
- How has the pandemic changed you?
- Do you wish everything in your life up until now had gone exactly how you originally wished it would?
- What type of person did you wish was around when you were little?
- What’s something you wish you stuck with?
- What energizes you?
- What drains your energy?
- Why do you journal?
Conclusion
Keep in mind, there is no right or wrong when it comes to journaling. Your answers to these prompts are completely valid, no matter how it feels or how you think others would perceive your answers. Journaling is for everyone.
